In response to Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s statements in support of anti-choice judicial nominee Michael Liburdi, NARAL Pro-Choice America President Ilyse Hogue issued the following statement:

“Senator Sinema, like so many Democrats, was elected last year in large part due to a wave powered by women voters who wanted to put a check on this runaway Administration. So to use one of her first acts in office to help elevate a judge with a clear anti-choice record is beyond troubling.

“Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell and anti-choice activists are stacking the courts at a record pace with far right-wing judges that will strip away our rights and freedoms with the ultimate goal of gutting Roe v. Wade and criminalizing abortion.

“Democratic Senators should be doing everything in their power to fight these efforts to stack courts against women and families. Senator Sinema says she knows this person and we should trust her judgement; however, actions speak louder than words and his actions have spoken volumes about where he stands on our fundamental reproductive freedoms.

“As this past week has made crystal clear, the massive threat to Roe v. Wade and our fundamental freedoms is now coming through the courts, so these votes matter more now than they ever have.

“You can’t claim you are an advocate of women and our reproductive freedom just because you vote correctly on some legislation if, at the same time, you help elevate right-wing judges who will inflict long-term damage to our cause.

“We hope Sen. Sinema will listen to the people of Arizona and women around the country who are terrified that our rights hang in the balance while Trump nominees take over the courts.”

Michael Liburdi has an extensive anti-choice record, including serving as chairman of the Arizona Right to Life PAC for five years, from 2010- 2014. He also has close ties to staunch anti-choice Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ). While Liburdi was serving as chairman of the Arizona Right to Life PAC, the group endorsed Ducey’s gubernatorial campaign. When Ducey was elected, he hired Liburdi to be his chief counsel. While Liburdi was serving in the Ducey administration, Ducey signed into law a ridiculous anti-choice bill that requires women to fill out a “checklist” justifying their reasons for accessing abortion care. The law also requires Arizona abortion providers to turn over the information they collect in these checklists to the state government.

NARAL Pro-Choice America and its network of state affiliates are dedicated to protecting and expanding reproductive freedom for all Americans. NARAL works to guarantee that every woman has the right to make personal decisions regarding the full range of reproductive choices, including preventing unintended pregnancy, bearing healthy children, and choosing legal abortion. In recognition of its work defending our constitutional right to choose, Fortune Magazine described NARAL as “one of the top 10 advocacy groups in America.”